Chapter 60 Desert Storm: Luffy Summons Sand Beast"I can beat them! I can beat them too!"
Sanji shouted from the side, his eyes filled with longing for "heaven." "Let me go up! I want to go with Nami and Vivi!!"
Luffy glanced at him and said indifferently, "Tch, what's so great about beating a sea cow? Sanji, you've fallen from grace."
Sanji: "..."
I'm totally losing it!!
As soon as Luffy finished speaking, the large, shimmering parasol above his head visibly shrank.
Following the shrinking parasol, Luffy naturally reached out and pulled Nami and Vivi, who had been exposed to the scorching sun, into his arms.
"Move over there, both of you. This scorching sun will really tan your delicate skin, and that won't look good."
Sanji watched from the side, veins throbbing on his forehead, looking like he wanted to devour someone.
Damn it!
This guy is a complete and utterly shameless bastard!
After traversing a steep sand dune, a lifeless, abandoned town abruptly came into view.
Sanji squinted, surveying the ruins of the city with a puzzled look: "This place... is this Yuba we're looking for?"
Vivi gazed at the city relentlessly swallowed by the swirling sand, her face instantly turning grim, her eyes filled with desolation and heartache.
"No, this is Elmar, once a place of pride for its lush greenery, known as the 'Green City'."
Vivi's voice trembled slightly: "Look at the state of this city now, and you'll truly understand the extent of the disaster Crocodile brought to Alabasta."
Her companions were speechless, looking at Vivi's sorrowful profile, unsure of what words to offer in comfort.
They could only remain silent, their steps heavy as they walked across this once-oasis.
A fierce wind whipped up swirling sandstorms, burying most of the once bustling houses beneath a thick layer of dust.
Everywhere the eye could see, the sand dunes were littered with stark white bones—human remains long since devoured by circling vultures.
The entire city was desolate and bleak, a scene of utter devastation, like a living hell.
Beneath the layers of sand, the outline of a dried-up riverbed could still be faintly discerned—once a lifeline for irrigation.
"This is too horrific..."
"You can't argue with that."
The crowd, witnessing this hellish scene, was overwhelmed with shock. Only now did they truly grasp the horrific atrocities Crocodile had committed.
Vivi whirled around, her eyes blazing as she glared at Luffy and demanded, "Is it really true, like you said, that villain was just searching for some Poneglyph clue?"
Luffy sighed softly and nodded. "That's exactly it."
In Luffy's eyes, Crocodile was the most cunning yet also the most foolish villain he had ever encountered—a true contradiction.
He was cunning because he had the patience to spend three whole years orchestrating a massive scheme, single-handedly tearing Alabasta, one of the twenty royal families, apart.
Calling him utterly stupid is because all that effort was for a clue about Pluton found on a Poneglyph in the Alabasta royal tombs.
The most ironic thing is that Robin never intended to tell him the truth; it was pure folly.
With Crocodile's strength, even a thorough search over three years would have turned Alabasta upside down. Why waste time and effort destroying a country?
It's like taking the plunge—a thankless and futile effort. And if word got out and the World Government found out, it would be a capital offense.
"Just for that vague clue! He treated the lives of millions of innocent civilians like dirt! That damned Crocodile!!"
Vivi grew increasingly agitated, her anger causing her to tremble. She bit her lower lip so hard it almost bled.
Luckily, Luffy reacted quickly, handing her a glass of water, stopping her self-harming act.
Nami blinked her big eyes, curiously interjecting, "Speaking of which, does Alabasta really harbor that legendary Pluton warship?"
Vivi shook her head, looking confused. "Perhaps it does, or perhaps it doesn't exist at all."
She paused, her tone bitter. "After all, no one in the world can understand the ancient script inscribed on the Poneglyphs anymore."
"Why do you think Crocodile went to such lengths to cooperate with Robin?"
Luffy explained slowly, "Precisely because Robin is the only one in the world who can decipher those Poneglyphs."
Upon hearing this, Vivi's pupils constricted sharply, her expression becoming extremely complex. "She can read them? Then is she helping that villain, or is there something else going on? Why would she collude with someone like Crocodile?"
During her time as an undercover agent, it was indeed Robin's unusual behavior that allowed her to uncover Crocodile's shocking conspiracy.
But back at Whiskey Peak, if Robin was truly a good person as Luffy claims, why did she resort to such methods to harm the people of Alabasta?
Luffy shrugged indifferently: "Scholars, their thought processes are different from us ordinary people. What she wanted was simply to uncover a hidden truth of history."
"But clearly, some people in this world don't want that history to see the light of day again, which is why she became the sole survivor of Ohara, burdened with false accusations and constantly hunted. She's just clumsily pursuing the truth."
Luffy paused, then continued, "As for Miss Allsunday's identity, she was just a tool for Crocodile to relay messages. Even if she quit, Crocodile could easily replace her with someone else. But at least it was because of her that you discovered the truth, wasn't it?"
After hearing this, Vivi's expression softened slightly.
Judging from the current situation, Robin's existence has indeed given Alabasta, which is on the verge of destruction, a glimmer of hope for salvation.
Otherwise, she and Icarus would probably still be kept in the dark, foolishly working for the mastermind behind it all.
Just then, a mournful howl of wind suddenly rang out, echoing through the empty ruins, sounding like someone desperately screaming.
"What's that noise?"
"It sounds like someone is crying."
"Could it be the rebels nearby?"
Luffy frowned slightly; he clearly sensed an intense, overwhelming pain and wailing.
Everything in the pirate world possesses a spirit.
And some of the strongest at the top can perceive the emotional imprints left by history.
Listening to the voice of all things—this was precisely Luffy's innate talent.
He could truly feel that this once vibrant Green City was conveying to him a sorrow that penetrated to the very core.
Ace cautiously observed the direction the wind was coming from, then shook his head. "No, that's just the sound of the wind."
"That's the sound of the wind resonating through the holes in the city ruins."
Luffy, however, gently patted Vivi's head and whispered, "No, that's the city's lament, a silent protest by the city of Almar against Crocodile's atrocities."
Hearing this, Vivi's eyes instantly reddened, looking at Luffy with deep emotion, tears welling up.
Luffy didn't hold back, taking the opportunity to gently kiss Vivi's smooth forehead.
Under Vivi's blushing gaze, Luffy stood up and leaped off the floating sand.
Sanji, watching Luffy's fluid and graceful movements, was so jealous he felt like he was about to explode!
After landing, Luffy patted Sanji on the shoulder earnestly: "Brother, listen to my advice, simps never have a good ending. Your true love isn't here."
Sanji's forehead was filled with question marks: "???"
Before Sanji could react, Luffy slammed his hands into the ground, and the earth began to tremble violently.
Countless grains of sand, as if summoned by some unseen force, began to slowly rise into the air, centered on Luffy.
Zoro and the others all looked up in astonishment, staring at the terrifying sea of sand gathering in the sky.
"What kind of big move are you making?"
"Sand Burial - Reverse Burst!"
The sand that filled the sky above Elmar City seemed to have heard a command, surging wildly towards the distance like receding waves.
The true face of Green City, which had been buried under thick yellow sand, was once again revealed to everyone.
"Mr. Luffy!"
Vivi, looking at the city's outline that she had regained, was so moved she almost cried.
Luffy jumped back onto the sand pile and patted her head again: "Don't worry, when I get that Wood Release template from Hasi Hot Mom, I'll turn your Alabasta from the Land of Wind into the Land of Fire in no time."
Vivi was completely bewildered: "???"
Although she didn't understand what he was saying, it sounded pretty impressive.
"It's so hot..."
Usopp had long lost the heroic spirit he had when he first entered the desert. His face was covered in dust and dirt, like a newly unearthed terracotta warrior.
"I'm so sorry," Vivi said, her face full of guilt as she watched everyone suffer.
"No, no, no, I wasn't complaining about you!"
Usopp waved his hands frantically, afraid that if he apologized even a second too late, Sanji, his protector, would beat him up.
Vivi's eyes were fixed firmly ahead: "I must get to Yuba before the riots completely erupt. Even if I have to kneel down and beg them, I will persuade them to abandon the rebellion and tell everyone Crocodile's entire conspiracy!"
"Don't worry, those rebels aren't stupid. They'll understand Vivi's good intentions."
Luffy chuckled and patted Vivi's head again.
Usopp, exasperated, stared at Luffy lounging on the specially made sand-covered deck chair like a vacationing old man, and snapped, "Luffy! Can't you just fly with us? Why do we have to suffer on the ground like this?!"
"You wish! Are you old, weak, disabled, or pregnant? If not, then you'd better walk properly. Here, Nami, open your mouth, I'll feed you a piece of chilled fruit."
"Thank you, darling."
Everyone: "..."
"Why do you have fruit in your hand, you idiot?!"
"Huh? Don't you guys always carry fruit with you?"
"Is that the point, you idiot?! We're crossing a desert! Shouldn't we be carrying the most crucial thing: water?"
Luffy looked at them like they were idiots: "Didn't I tell you before?"
"Tell you what?"
Everyone froze.
With a casual wave of his hand, Luffy caused the sand beneath their feet to erupt like a fountain, a jet of water shooting skyward.
Soon, the previously dry sand became moist, eventually coalescing into a crystal-clear spring.
Everyone's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets, staring intently at the spring that had appeared out of nowhere: "What?! You can actually create a fountain out of thin air?!"
"Tch, those are just some low-level tricks. I just brought out some deep groundwater."
Luffy's smug expression made everyone grit their teeth in anger.
Zoro and Sanji, furious, slammed the heavy water buckets on their backs to the ground, roaring, "Why didn't you say you had this ability sooner?!"
Then, the group rushed into the fountain like madmen, taking a refreshing bath.
"Ah, that feels great!!"
Chopper, who had been unconscious from heatstroke, was now splashing and rolling around in the water with great joy.
"Speaking of which, Luffy's brother doesn't seem to mind the heat at all," Usopp remarked, looking at Ace who wasn't even sweating a drop.
"You idiot, have you ever seen fire afraid of the heat?"
Sanji gave Usopp a look as if he were an idiot.
"Oh, you're right. By the way, Ace, why don't you come down for a bath?"
Usopp enthusiastically invited Ace.
Ace chuckled and waved his hand. "I'd rather not. I'm afraid your unreliable captain will take the opportunity to tie me up."
Luffy looked at Ace with admiration. "You're quite alert."
To be honest, Luffy did have a little bit of a mischievous thought about taking advantage of Ace, since Devil Fruit users become completely powerless once they enter the water. Unfortunately for him, Ace was too clever and didn't fall for it.
Once everyone had cooled off, the group resumed their journey.
As night fell, the previously unbearable heat suddenly plummeted to below zero.
"Damn it, it was unbearably hot during the day!"
Nami, shivering from the cold, curled up in a ball and snuggled into Luffy's warm embrace. "Vivi, do you want to squeeze in too? It's super warm in here."
The shy Vivi blushed and quickly waved her hand in refusal, "I...I think I'll pass."
"Nami-chan, Vivi-chan, actually, my embrace is very warm too, you know, want to try it?"
Sanji, though shivering from the cold, still stubbornly insisted with a lovestruck expression.
Nami rolled her eyes at Sanji, who was shivering and clinging to Chopper for warmth, speechless. "Has your brain been frozen solid...?"
"Hey, Sanji, it's my turn! Let me hug Chopper for a bit!" Usopp sidled up to Sanji, reaching for the fluffy hand warmer.
Sanji kicked him across the face, and a battle for Chopper erupted instantly.
Watching her friends playfully bickering, Vivi's previously heavy mood eased somewhat.
"By the way...did you guys hear anything strange?"
Usopp's ears twitched, and he asked Sanji with a puzzled look.
Chopper's little nose twitched twice, then his expression suddenly changed, and he jumped onto a high rock.
"What the hell is that?!"
Following Chopper's horrified gaze, everyone stared in disbelief as a massive, earthen-yellow tornado swept in from the distance, seemingly connecting the sky and the earth.
Vivi frantically stood up, looking into the distance with an incredulous expression of terror: "Everyone, find rocks and take cover!"
"Huh? Vivi, what happened?"
"It's a storm! A massive desert storm!"
Ace, shading his eyes with his hand, watched the hurricane hurtling towards them like a wild beast, and even exclaimed in admiration: "Wow, that looks pretty spectacular."
"Desert storms are the number one killer in the desert! Everyone, get out of the way!"
Vivi, watching the sandstorm sweep in like a tsunami, cried out in alarm.
Everyone frantically searched for massive rocks to take cover.
Luffy, however, remained unperturbed as he watched the approaching storm, even stretching lazily. "It's just a bit of wind, what's there to hide from? Time to get to work!"
As Luffy's flippant words fell,
the surrounding sand began to slowly gather towards him, as if it had come to life.
"What's going on?!"
Everyone stared in astonishment at Luffy's ever-growing size. In the blink of an eye, a massive, mountain-sized sand beast resembling a tanuki appeared before them.
A Tailed Beast!
Shukaku, the One-Tailed Beast!
"Why did you call me out in the middle of the night?"
Shukaku looked around with displeasure, then frowned slightly when it saw the sudden storm approaching. "What the hell? Wind Release ninjutsu?"
Looking at the fierce storm, Shukaku revealed an extremely disdainful expression, scoffing, "A little storm like this dares to show off in front of me?"
To everyone's astonishment, the gigantic Shukaku suddenly opened its abyssal maw: "Wind Release: Infinite Sandstorm Breakthrough!"
Countless grotesque mouths suddenly appeared on Shukaku's body, unleashing a terrifying hurricane that stretched for miles, forcefully colliding with the opposing desert storm.
Under the stunned gazes of the crowd, the once invincible desert storm was instantly swallowed and assimilated by Shukaku's superstorm, like a small flame encountering a typhoon, and then swept back in the opposite direction.
What the Fxxk?!
This is possible?!
Instead of trying to avoid the desert storm, it creates an even bigger storm to blow it back?
Is this something a human would do?!
Everyone stared blankly at the giant sand cat: "What kind of monster is this?"
"What are you looking at! Look again and I'll bury you all!"
Shukaku, its mouth agape, roared menacingly at Zoro and the others.
Suddenly, Shukaku's eyes shifted, transforming into eerie rings of Rinnegan.
"Enough with the nonsense," Luffy's voice came from Shukaku's gaping maw, "How was that? Pretty cool, right?"
The massive Shukaku body instantly crumbled, turning back into scattered sand, revealing Luffy's figure amidst the swirling dust.
Everyone stared at Luffy, their eyebrows twitching wildly. They recalled the information they'd seen about Crocodile, then looked at Luffy before them.
Which of you two actually ate the Sand-Sand Fruit?!
"Huh? Lots of ready-made game here!"
"Looks like we're in for a treat tonight! We've been starving all day."
"It's all Luffy's fault for not telling us sooner that he could produce water! Our backpacks are full of water, and we didn't bring enough food."
"This is divine justice! So many injured birds have delivered themselves to our doorstep as a meal!"
Luffy and his crew stared at several large birds feigning death under the shadow of a reef, their eyes gleaming with a green light.
These birds had originally planned to gain sympathy by playing dead and then steal their luggage, but as they listened, the situation seemed increasingly absurd.
Finally, when they heard Sanji sharpen his cleaver, the birds, who had appeared to be on the verge of death, suddenly sprang back to life, flapping their wings and taking flight.
They squawked in terror as they flew.
"Don't you guys have any compassion?! You're inhuman!" Chopper shouted, translating the bird language.
Vivi, watching the fleeing white birds, suddenly realized, "Those are the Great Deceitful Birds! They prey on kind travelers, they're desert thieves who steal luggage!"
"So, they're bad guys."
Usopp calmly nodded, picked up his slingshot, and aimed at the Great Deceitful Birds in the sky.
Although Usopp was terrible at close combat, the accuracy and power of his slingshot were comparable to a sniper rifle.
"Ultimate Kill - Lead Shot Star!"
Usopp excitedly fired several lead shot stars in quick succession. Instantly, the Great Deceitful Birds fell from the sky, landing on the ground like dumplings being dropped into a pot.
"Quick! Quick! Start the fire! Heat the oil!"
Usopp shouted excitedly to Sanji.
"Alright!" Sanji didn't hesitate at all, skillfully pulling out pots and pans.
Vivi, watching Sanji's fluid movements, was speechless. These big, deceptive birds had really run into a pack of hungry wolves; they were incredibly unlucky.
Suddenly, Usopp turned his binoculars, his brow furrowing. "There seems to be something moving in the distance."
Luffy turned to look and saw a camel stuck in a green bush in the desert, struggling and sweating profusely.
"Ah!!"
Chopper saw the camel and exclaimed excitedly, "That's my friend!"
The next second, he transformed into his human-beast form and charged towards the camel.
However, at that moment, countless giant man-eating plants rose from the sand, their gaping maws snapping at Chopper.
"Chopper, watch out!"
The crowd cried out in alarm behind them.
Luffy simply made a grabbing motion in the air, and the sand in the sand dune instantly transformed into a giant hand, uprooting the enormous man-eating plants.